In the days after Martin Luther King Jr. was killed on April 4, 1968, his family felt deep sadness and loss. His wife, Coretta Scott King, had to step into the spotlight to deal with her personal sorrow and continue her husband’s important work for justice. She said that “the man who was my husband...was not a man who would allow his work to be taken from him by violence.” This showed how strong the King family was during such a terrible time.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s death caused many riots all over the United States. There was more than $45 million in damage, and riots happened in over 125 cities. After his death, police reported 39 people died and more than 2,000 were hurt nationwide. This chaos showed how divided American society was and how much work was still needed for civil rights.
Even with all the unrest, the King family started planning memorial services and making statements that focused on peace. On April 7, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral was attended by more than 13,000 people. Thousands more lined the streets as his body was carried through Atlanta. The ceremony also included over 100 important guests, such as political leaders and civil rights activists.
Coretta Scott King and their children became more active in the civil rights movement. They wanted to make sure that Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of equality and justice lived on. They took their grief and turned it into a strong push for change in society.
In the days after Martin Luther King Jr. was killed on April 4, 1968, his family felt deep sadness and loss. His wife, Coretta Scott King, had to step into the spotlight to deal with her personal sorrow and continue her husband’s important work for justice. She said that “the man who was my husband...was not a man who would allow his work to be taken from him by violence.” This showed how strong the King family was during such a terrible time.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s death caused many riots all over the United States. There was more than $45 million in damage, and riots happened in over 125 cities. After his death, police reported 39 people died and more than 2,000 were hurt nationwide. This chaos showed how divided American society was and how much work was still needed for civil rights.
Even with all the unrest, the King family started planning memorial services and making statements that focused on peace. On April 7, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral was attended by more than 13,000 people. Thousands more lined the streets as his body was carried through Atlanta. The ceremony also included over 100 important guests, such as political leaders and civil rights activists.
Coretta Scott King and their children became more active in the civil rights movement. They wanted to make sure that Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of equality and justice lived on. They took their grief and turned it into a strong push for change in society.